Min Aung Hlaing lavished praise on ‘good friend and neighbor’ China, just months after implying the country was behind ethnic armies’ attacks on his forces.

Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing kowtowed to China at the Chinese New Year celebration in Yangon on Sunday, in a marked turnaround from his indirect accusations a few months ago that the country was supporting the anti-regime offensive known as Operation 1027.

It is widely understood that the regime is not happy with China’s backing of the anti-regime offensive in northern Shan State—and that the fighting only ceased thanks to China.